Attic Pests and The Damage They Cause
Attic spaces make lovely places for pest organisms. Most attics are rarely disturbed, dry, warm, and there is often an abundance of nesting materials. Best of all, there are few predators in an attic so raising a family is more comfortable. Here is our list of attic pests, and we include a blurb about the damage they cause.
1. Bats
Bats are small mammals that fly. Many people think that bats are rodents, but they are not. Bats have precise roosting requirements, and the attic in your home or business is just the spot they need.
Generally, bats are beneficial creatures as they eat insects such as mosquitoes. Left unchecked in an attic space, bats can cause a tremendous amount of damage. It is their feces and urine that cause the damage. Over years of roosting, a colony of bats can deposit a considerable amount of feces. Their urine will stain objects in the attic, warp wood, and leach down the walls to cause damage to the ceilings and walls in lower rooms.
2. Birds
Birds are another organism that will roost in an attic space. Many gain entrance through soffit vents that have damage to the screens. In some cases, birds may get into the attic through broken windows.
Similar to bats, birds damage the attic by depositing piles of feces. Birds will also steal items to make nests, such as insulation, clothing, and paper. Wedding dresses, Christmas ornaments, baby clothes are all examples of things that birds roosting in an attic can damage.
3. Rodents
Rodents include mice, rats, and squirrels. These are among the most common attic pests. Not only do they cause damage, but they are also often very loud. Rodents gain access to attics by crawling up the walls. Squirrels can chew their way into the attic. Sometimes, like birds and bats, they will enter through damaged soffit vents. Soffit vents are the air exchange vents found along the eaves of a home or business.
The damage caused by rodents can be extensive and dangerous. They will chew electrical wires, which can lead to structure fires. They will pull insulation out of the walls for nesting materials. They chew paper, clothing, wood, causing damage to anything you store in the attic, such as photographs. In addition to the chewing damage, they urinate and defecate everywhere. Their feces can harbor pathogens that cause severe diseases such as hantavirus- which does not have a cure.
Rats and mice are very active at night. They run across the attic space, making noise while you are trying to sleep.
What To Do About Attic Pests
First, schedule an attic inspection, which will determine if there are pests in your attic and what types of pests are there. From there, a pest control plan will let you know how we will deal with those pests so that your attic remains pest free.
We offer comprehensive pest control services throughout the Bryan and College Station Communities. Our services are safe, effective, and affordable. Give us a call today to discuss pest control for your home or business.
